Officials used the reverse 9-1-1 system late Friday to issue immediate mandatory evacuation notices for residences to the east of Angeles Crest Highway on Greenridge Drive, Forest Green Drive, Ridge Court and Starlight Crest Drive, according to Kevin Chun, the director of Administrative Services for La Cañada Flintridge.

Angeles National Forest spokeswoman Jessica Luna said voluntary evacuations are in place north of Vista Del Valle Road and east of La Cañada Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge.

By nightfall, many residents of a rural West Altadena neighborhood were packing up to evacuate as flames approached.

Between 700 and 800 firefighters and support staff struggled to control the huge Station Fire, which was still spreading and only 5 percent contained late Friday, U.S. Fire Service spokesman Bruce Quintelier said.

Flames quickly spread north and west throughout the day in the rugged canyon areas of the Angeles National Forest. But by late Friday, Quintelier said, no structures had been lost and only one unspecified injury was reported.

That didn't ease the minds of worried residents of one Altadena neighborhood.

"I don't like what I'm seeing there," said 78-year-old Altadena resident Raymond Backes as he pointed to heavy black smoke pouring from a ridge about a half-mile from his home in the 4500 block of El Prieto Road. "It's always scary when you have a fire in the neighborhood." View Station Fire in a larger map